please help people have the right to keep chickens!

Poet_2

we're talking about a small number of chickens (NOT including cockerels) , not a huge flock. The Gateshead couple for example have just 2 chickens and, as I said earlier, provided they are looked after properly, are no more likely to bring in vermin than any other pet.

Chickens in the country live, and are kept, differently to urban chickens- as are any animal to be honest. For example, farmhouse cats are a breed apart from the household moggy.

nickbrat

Its not the fact that this couple want to keep chickens or the fact that dogs make noise and cats crap all over the flowerbeds.

To me the issue is simple, you signed a contract as did the neighbours.

Stick to your contract or enter into negotiations with the council or housing association who own the property.

Otherwise, no chickens. Just like you agreed to when you moved in.

I like chickens and would love to keep some myself if only i had the room.

MaximumImpact

we're talking about a small number of chickens (NOT including cockerels)

Yes, but where does it stop?? You say that everyone has the right to keep chickens...surely then they have the right to keep cockerels????

Chickens in the country live, and are kept, differently to urban chickens- as are any animal to be honest.

But rats are rats and they don't discriminate between country and urban chickens....

provided they are looked after properly, are no more likely to bring in vermin than any other pet.

So I don't look after my chickens properly then?? Absolute tosh....there are a couple of old sayings about chickens...''where there are chickens, there are rats''....and "every time they cluck, they c**p''.....

I clean out my chickens daily, their feed is kept in secure bins, the waste is burnt due to the amount, I put down poison and traps and I still have rats......

Poet_2

nickbrat wrote: »

.....To me the issue is simple, you signed a contract as did the neighbours.

....

no offence but I am glad not everyone sees the world in such black and white terms.

Poet_2

maximum impact- we obviously disagree and I don't see any point countering the points you've raised because you'll only come back and disagree again.

Those of us who have had vermin free, pleasant and quiet chicken keeping experiences will understand where I'm coming from .

I'm sorry you have noisy chickens and rats, I don't.

RAS

Two hens are "Livestock".

Well one of my neighbours had two pet ducks and I am sure a lot of people keep guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets. Are those not livestock?

Errata

How do people propose that the welfare of back garden chickens should be safeguarded ? Who will ensure the back garden is large enough for the number of chickens kept in it?

Poet_2

Errata wrote: »

How do people propose that the welfare of back garden chickens should be safeguarded ? Who will ensure the back garden is large enough for the number of chickens kept in it?

If you buy a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig etc, does anyone ensure your back garden is large enough?

Pet chickens and pet chicken owners should be treated exactly the same.

Wig

Poet wrote: »

If you buy a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig etc, does anyone ensure your back garden is large enough?

I believe that they should be checked, and a licence issued, if you pass. Complaints from the public against a certain pet owner should be logged and considered when the licence is to be renewed at a yet to be decided no. of years 1, 2, 5 etc. Non renewal of licence means the animals are taken away.

Britain is becoming increasingly crowded, people living cheek by jowel, people with large gardens are forever selling off half as a building plot.

We need tough laws on antisocial neighbours and animal welfare, and animal nuisance.

All I want to do is go in my garden and grow plants, enjoy the sunshine in peace and quiet, no loud music, no shouting, no barking dogs, no chickens. and I want other people to respect the people who live around them.

Errata

Poet wrote: »

If you buy a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig etc, does anyone ensure your back garden is large enough?

Pet chickens and pet chicken owners should be treated exactly the same.

Perhaps animal welfare as a whole needs to be reviewed ?